Five Dead, Hundred Injured in Clashes Near Ukraine's Parliament

World | February 18, 2014, Tuesday // 16:02
Bulgaria: Five Dead, Hundred Injured in Clashes Near Ukraine's Parliament Protesters stand on a barricade at the Grushevskogo street in downtown Kiev, Ukraine, 17 February 2014. Photo by EPA/SERGEY DOLZHENKO.

Open warfare broke out on the streets of Kiev today, with five protesters reported dead and more than 100 people injured, the Kyiv Post informed.

Five protesters had been shot to death while dozens more were injured.

The deaths are the result of the renewed violent clashes that set thousands of police and protesters against each other at several locations near Ukraine's parliament building in Kiev.

Police reported that at least 37 police officers were injured.

By mid-afternoon, thousands of police officers encircled the government district in an attempt to disperse demonstrators.

By 1.30 pm, police officers had once again taken up sniper positions by on the roof of a five-story, commercial-residential building on 17/5 Institutska Street, Kyiv Post informed. Officers fired down onto crowds of protesters, after being repulsed earlier by demonstrators.

Besides firing guns, police used clubs, tear gas and flash grenades to disperse thousands of protesters, as parliament failed to meet today to consider opposition demands for a new constitution and new government.

Protesters struck back, armed with sticks, stones, metal bars, fireworks and Molotov cocktails and other explosives.

At least two men were shot in the head with rubber bullets, while several front-line protesters were also fired upon by police. Protesters also attacked police officers.

Earlier Tuesday clashes between protesters and police were resumed in central Kiev, Ukraine amid tensions over proposed changes to the constitution.

The opposition has demanded the return of the 2004 constitution, which curbs some of President Yanukovych's powers.

The changes would mean that parliament, rather than the president, would appoint the prime minister and most cabinet members, as well as regional governors.

The move could also lead to early presidential elections, which has been a key demand of the opposition.

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Tags: Ukraine, parliament, protest, police, clash, dead, injured, protesters, President Yanukovych

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